Building Blocks has a potentially positive effect on preschool mathematics achievement, with a pooled effect size of 0.58 across three studies meeting WWC standards¶
Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · quant-synthesisr2·q3·i2medium
Currency · newest study 2023 · checked against its sources 2026-10-07 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person
Subclaims¶
Reading the evidence codes
q is the design tier, i the impact, n the sample, and the kind with its r
the rigour judged within that kind: what each code means.
This claim: no standardized effect is recorded in observations/ for it yet, so no benchmark reading is possible.
q3 i2 Across three cluster randomized trials totaling 3,221 children, Building Blocks improved preschool mathematics achievement with a pooled effect size of 0.58 and improvement index of +22, statistically significant at p < 0.01. → synthesis-1
Evidence¶
synthesis-1¶
What Works Clearinghouse, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. (2023, December). Building Blocks. https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/InterventionReport/733
q3 · i2 · quant-synthesis · r2
WWC synthesis of three cluster randomized controlled trials using a weighted average, adjusted for baseline group differences, with pooled effect size 0.58 and improvement index +22. The report states the research "provides moderate evidence that Building Blocks improved student mathematics achievement."
"Summary for Mathematics: Potentially positive effects 0.58 +22 Yes (p < 0.01)"
Discussion¶
Related Claims¶
- In a 28-classroom cluster randomized trial, Building Blocks raised end-of-intervention REMA scores with an effect size of 1.07 (improvement index +36) — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
- Building Blocks for Math has positive effects on preschool mathematics achievement according to the WWC — related
- In a 139-classroom scale-up cluster randomized trial (TRIAD), Building Blocks raised end-of-intervention REMA scores with an effect size of 0.55 (improvement index +21) — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
- Pre-K Mathematics improves preschool children's mathematics achievement, with a WWC positive effects rating and strong evidence tier — related
- In a 2006 randomized trial, Building Blocks for Math significantly outperformed business-as-usual on the Early Mathematics Assessment — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
claim |
id |
building-blocks-potentially-positive-preschool-math-effect |
title |
Building Blocks has a potentially positive effect on preschool mathematics achievement, with a pooled effect size of 0.58 across three studies meeting WWC standards |
description |
Building Blocks has a potentially positive effect on preschool mathematics achievement, with a pooled effect size of 0.58 across three studies meeting WWC standards |
status |
review |
evidence_strength |
moderate |
newest_evidence |
2023 |
source_checked |
2026-10-07 |
generated |
by process:wiki-ingest on 2026-10-07 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
1 — synthesis-1 |
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